Coaches Corner

[sparcboxbuck]

So, how many of you all are involved in coaching?

What sports? What levels?

I have to imagine that a ton of us are involved in coaching in some way. Consider this a place to come to brag and boast or bitch and whine. Thoughts, tips, strategy and philosophies all appreciated!

Chime in!


Anyhow...

I just got off the field from coaching today and even though we lost, I can't be more happy with how our kids played today. The kids took a three goal lead into the 4th quarter against the best team in our league on their home field. Only when the other team stopped playing lacrosse and started playing something that vaguely resembles a cross between the MMA and lacrosse, did our kids go down. We lost to this same team seven days ago 7-0 and lost 8-7 today... First time in my coaching career that I've been given an official warning by the ref. Frankly, I was out of line, but I really wasn't commenting on his slow call, I was just frustrated seeing a 10-year old get cross checked under the helmet in the back of the neck so hard that it sent him two feet into the crease.

Either way, one hell of a day for our kids on the field. Not much for moral victories but I'll take this one considering they bageled us at home last week. Maybe I'm crazy, but I took a lot of pleasure in watching a team that has rolled through the schedule get taken to the ropes for as long as they did. Credit to them for coming back and all, but it sure as hell was fun while it lasted. I'm sure that there's a bunch of parents on the other team questioning spending a few thousand dollars a head per year to be part of that club team when a park district team played them as close as we did.



Who's next?

 

[Crump's brother]

I coached football at the varsity level for ten years, then took a couple of years off-personal/political reasons. Getting back into the game this season, as the head middle school coach.

I'm pretty excited, as I rounded up three of my best coaching friends to be on my staff. We've all worked together before, and we are all on the same page. Should be a great year, except that one is a Domer, and the other a wolverine...

 

[Mac]

Coached HS boys Lacrosse last year. Head coach left, and the board decided to bring in a new HC who brought in his own staff. Won't work within that school district again. Unorganized, no communication, etc. Helping the kids was great, but the rest of it was terrible.

Looking for another local school program to get involved with, or possibly starting up a program at a school who doesn't have lacrosse

 

[Apache]

35 years.......Head Football and Head Baseball coach in my career. Assistant in both sports as well, middle school and freshman basketball coach for a couple of years. Little league baseball-tee ball, football coach at times.

The one thing you must always remember and put into practice is that you are a teacher, a role model, sometimes a parent, sometimes after they graduate years down the road, they become your friend.

It is all about the life lessons and connection you make. As I have said innumerable times: Kids will run through walls for you if you make that connection, if you lead by example, if you hold them accountable and if you do not make them run through walls just to make them run through walls.

You must teach them to "Think Like a Champion" and you, yourself must have that mindset. You must teach them about quality in life, school and athletics. YOU MUST HAVE A PLAN FOR EXCELLENCE. You must model being a learner as well. You can not know too much about building character or teaching your sport. However, you can try to do too much. This is nearly as defeating as doing too little and being a lazy coach.

Character development is crucial and the bedrock of all athletic programs.
In the past when interviewed, the question came up, “What is the single most important facet in your program?” Without hesitation, I answered that character and all it entails is the single most important part of any organization. I further expanded that total accountability is another key dynamic. This must include the head coach and every coach involved. Clear expectations and consistency further explain the character portion of the program.

You need to foster in every way on every day that you are building a football family. You will love your players as if they were your own kids. In many ways they are your kids. You discipline when needed. Kids expect discipline. Kids thrive when discipline is present and consistent. As I stated earlier, kids will run through walls for you, but discipline must always be for improvement and part of the learning and growth process.

Yes, we love to compete and win, but you will have a moment in time when you lose in spite of your plan. You must also teach a response to losing. You must do your best work in defeat. You must teach a plan for getting better and you must analyze your strengths and weaknesses as a coach. I was not the most patient coach and sometimes that defeats the purpose.

I am not coaching at this point in my career. I have not lost the energy or zest for coaching, but, for me, the right situation and the ability to run my own or have an important part in another program has not yet happened.

Strive for excellence in everything you do.

Check out this video: [SIZE=+0]http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9242142&categoryid=2378529[/SIZE]

 

[Mac]

GPA Apache!

 

[sparcboxbuck]

Coached HS boys Lacrosse last year. Head coach left, and the board decided to bring in a new HC who brought in his own staff. Won't work within that school district again. Unorganized, no communication, etc. Helping the kids was great, but the rest of it was terrible.

Looking for another local school program to get involved with, or possibly starting up a program at a school who doesn't have lacrosse

Co-op team across schools that don't have one is a great way to get going if that's a possibility for you.

Good luck!

 

[sparcboxbuck]

35 years.......Head Football and Head Baseball coach in my career. Assistant in both sports as well, middle school and freshman basketball coach for a couple of years. Little league baseball-tee ball, football coach at times.

The one thing you must always remember and put into practice is that you are a teacher, a role model, sometimes a parent, sometimes after they graduate years down the road, they become your friend.

It is all about the life lessons and connection you make. As I have said innumerable times: Kids will run through walls for you if you make that connection, if you lead by example, if you hold them accountable and if you do not make them run through walls just to make them run through walls.

You must teach them to "Think Like a Champion" and you, yourself must have that mindset. You must teach them about quality in life, school and athletics. YOU MUST HAVE A PLAN FOR EXCELLENCE. You must model being a learner as well. You can not know too much about building character or teaching your sport. However, you can try to do too much. This is nearly as defeating as doing too little and being a lazy coach.

Character development is crucial and the bedrock of all athletic programs.
In the past when interviewed, the question came up, ?What is the single most important facet in your program?? Without hesitation, I answered that character and all it entails is the single most important part of any organization. I further expanded that total accountability is another key dynamic. This must include the head coach and every coach involved. Clear expectations and consistency further explain the character portion of the program.

You need to foster in every way on every day that you are building a football family. You will love your players as if they were your own kids. In many ways they are your kids. You discipline when needed. Kids expect discipline. Kids thrive when discipline is present and consistent. As I stated earlier, kids will run through walls for you, but discipline must always be for improvement and part of the learning and growth process.

Yes, we love to compete and win, but you will have a moment in time when you lose in spite of your plan. You must also teach a response to losing. You must do your best work in defeat. You must teach a plan for getting better and you must analyze your strengths and weaknesses as a coach. I was not the most patient coach and sometimes that defeats the purpose.

I am not coaching at this point in my career. I have not lost the energy or zest for coaching, but, for me, the right situation and the ability to run my own or have an important part in another program has not yet happened.

Strive for excellence in everything you do.

Check out this video: [SIZE=+0]http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9242142&categoryid=2378529[/SIZE]

Every youth coach should read those words. You are so right. Win or lose, first thing our kids do when they get to our goalie is say, 'We win and lose with dignity.' It may sound stupid but if they just remember that in their lives, I'll be pleased. During our game on Sunday one of the kids came off the field and said,' I can't believe the language they are using.' One of the other kids told him to just say 'thank you.' I had to laugh.

 

[scooter1369]

I've been coaching Fastpitch Softball for about nine years now. Essentially as long as my oldest has been playing. This will be my fourth season coaching a travel team, but first in this organization.

I still offer help to my youngest daughter's teams in rec ball (she's only 10). I really enjoy working with the younger kids, Fostering a love of the game is the first step. Making not just the games fun and enticing, but practices too. They have to want to get better, and making practices interesting by trying new drills and making a game of them helps. I'm looking forward to one day being retired (or wealthy) and having time to devote fully to coaching this great game.

 

[Crump's brother]

Reviving this one with a question for the other football coaches...what offense do you run and why?

We run a 4-4 defense, mostly because it is balanced and versatile. Also, my assistants are great at coaching it.

On offense we run a hybrid wing T/ double wing. I base our offense on the rocket sweep. We have 8 formations, 6 run plays. Unless they have good coaches and better athletes, we will score.

Anyone else?

 

[cincibuck]

I coached track and cross country from 1980 to 2005. First two years at Ursuline Academy and the remaining time at Moeller High School.

Just to pile on to Apache's words, I took Woody's football course in the winter of 67. On the very first moment of the very first day, he wrote on the board, "Who was Time Magazine's Man of the Year for 1967?" He turned to us and said, "You need to be able to answer that question on Friday. There will be a quiz each Friday of this class. Ten questions will be on football and ten will be about current events and they will both count equally. If you want to coach football you'll start out in junior high or high school and the kids will look up to you. If you don't know what's going on in the world, how do you expect them to know? Your first job is to be a teacher, coaching comes second."

It was about this time that Ohio State had removed the history/social studies minor. Too many b-ball and football coaches were majoring in PE and minoring in history/social studies and the state testing scores in those areas were extremely low.

 

[Crump's brother]

Two of my four coaches are teachers-Spanish and Math-I agree completely. I battle the influence of the tobacco chewing, swearing, the opponent is the enemy type on a regular basis. Not to say that people who don't work in schools are all like that, I have never coached with a fellow teacher who is like that.

I've worked with guys who have done everything from make comments about the other school's cheerleaders to telling a kid to "take number 33 out." Now that I'm in charge, I only hire good role models.